Rail-fastening plate



J. WESOLIK RAILv FASTENING PLATE May 8, 1923.

Filed Sept. 11, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l liz ven/1024.1

J. WESOLIK yMay 8, 1923. 1,454,090

RAIL FASTENING PLATE Filed sept. 11, 1922 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Zh/yeu fr.'

Patented May 8, 1923.

JOSEPH WESOLIK, 0F BELLEVILLE,l ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH T0 EWALL LUETSCHER, OF BELLEVILLE, ILLINGIS, AND ONE-HALF T0 LUDWIG KRIBBEN, 0F

CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

RAIL-FASTEIUNG PLATE.

Application led September 11, 1922.

jections to, and defects in, the present method of holding rails upon ties by means ofl spikes.

The object of my invention is to provide a rail fastening plate having yieldable means to be brought into embracing engagement with the base vflanges of the rails by means of screw-threaded elements, which elements also serve the dual function of preventing lateral displacement, or spreading of the rails, when threaded into the ties.

A further object of ,the invention is to provide a rail fastening plate which will serve at the joint of two rails and aid in holding the rails in alignment.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear hereinafter, the detail construction entering into my invention will be hereinafter fully described and finally pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like characters of reference denote similar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1, is a perspective view of a rail fastening plate. embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2, is a side elevation thereof together with a cross section of a rail positioned thereon but not as yet fastened thereto.

Fig. 3, is a View similar to Fig. 2. showing the rail fastened to the plate and the plate secured to the tie.

Fig. 4, is a plan View of the. lnven'tion as it appears applied to a rail and tie.

Fig. 5, is aperspect1ve view of the rail fastening plate as used at the joint of two rails.

Fig. 6,.is a plan view of Fig. 5.

. Referring to the drawings, the refe'rence character l represents a wooden tie While 2 represent a rail.

n carrying out the aim of my present 1n- Seria'l No. 587,363.

vention, I employ a metallic plate. 3 preferably of steel and which is preferably rectangular in shape. The corners of the plato 3 are bent downwardly to form prongs 4 which serve as anchors for the plate when embedded into the tie l to aid against displacement of the plate when positioned upon the tie 1.

Punched from the plate 3 and disposed opposite one another are a pair of rail embracing lips 5 and 6. Each of these lips is provided with an inclined or angular body portion 7 which iS integral with the plate 3 and which terminates in a horizontally dis,

posed portion 8 provided with an opening 9. The lips 5 and 6 are directed toward each other but are. spaced a sufficient distance apart to provide a gap of somewhat less width than the base flanges l0 of the rail .2, as is evident from Fig. 1, of the drawings.

The body portion 7 of lip 5 is directed at a greater acute angle than angularly disposed body portion of lip 6 so as to provide a greater gap between the body portion 8 of lip 5 and the plate 3 .than between the body portion 8 of l-ip 6 and plate 3 so as to permit one'of base anges l0 of the rail 2 to be first inserted into the gap between the lip 5 and base 3, as shown in dotted line A in Fig. 2, and then moved laterally until the other base fiange enters the ga between lip 6 and the base 3,'as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. When the rail is in normal position, the edges of the base fianges lie in alignment with the inner curve of the openings 9, as clearly shown in Fig. Q.

After the rail has been positioned upon the fastening plate 3, a suitable lag screw 11 'is 'receivable in each of the openingsl of the embracing lips 5 and 6 and forced into the tie causing the heads l2 of the screws l1 to draw the lip portions 8 of the embracing lips 5 and 6 into Contact with the upper face of thebase flanges l0 of the rail 2, asclearly shown in Fig. 8. It will be observed that the shank or stem of the screws engages the side edges of the rail flange to prevent any possible spreading or displacement 4of the rails after the screws have been brought home.

It will be apparent from the drawings that the lip portions S of the lips 5 and 6 embrace the base flanges of the rails and serve the same function as the heads of the spikes now used for anchoring rails to the ties. i

The lips and 6 being resilient or yieldable under pressure always enables the gap between the lips 5 and f3 and the 'fastening' plate 3 to be increased Whenever the screws ll are removed from the ties, thus permitting easy removal of' the rails from the fastening plates7 orvice-rersa during repair Work, owing to lips returning to their normal position after the screw pressure has been released.

lllhen the fastening plates are ei'nployi-d at the joint between tivo adjacent rails. the Width of the lips 5 and G is increased to double the Width of the lips shown iu Fie'. l or greater and each lip is provided with tivo bolt openings 9 instead of' one, This increased Width of the lips 5 and 6 permits embracing therein the of both rails and the double screw arrangement positively7 holds the two rails at. their ends in alignment.

.ift is possible with rail fastening plates a. herein described to eliminate a large number of' ties to the mileI- and, this is especially true in mine track construction, there Yis nb possible chance for the spreading-or displacement of the rails, as the plates and screws must first be displaced upon the ties which is impossible7 wherein with the use of spikes alone for holding the rails upon the ties, it is possible 'for rails to spread or be displaced Whenever the spilre becomes the least bit loose .in the tie due to vibrations caused'by rolling stock.

t is evident that the ties can be provided with openings 13 for the reception vof the lag screws ll, said openings, of course-v beine' less in diameter than the screws ll so they will not fit loose therein when brought home. Ties provided with the openings .i8 permit the track layers to quickly position the rail fastening plates upon the ties by simply registering the openings 9 of the embracing lips 5 and 6 'with the openings 13 in the ties.

lt is apparent `from the foregoing` description that. I provide a rail fastenirzg` plate that is simple in eoiistiiu'-tion. easily and quickly applied to or removed from the, rails and highly efficient 'for the purpose intended7 namely, the elimination of spikes for rail fastening' lmrposcs. i

The many advantages of the herein described invention will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

l do not Wish to be understood as having' limited n'xyselfl to thc exact details ol construction shown and described. but desire to have it understood that the invention l have shown in the drawings is merely illustrative, as it is manifest that various minor changes may he made in the form, shape inse-,ono

and particular arrangement of parts Without departing Vfrom the spirit of my invention, hence l. 'reserve the right to make any Such changes, or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims when fairly construed.

What l claim is:

l. The combination with a flanged rail and a Wooden tie, of a clamping plate adapted to be seated upon the tie, opposed rail flange embracing members directed upwardly and inwardly from said plate and headed locking Y the rail flauwe embracii'iga members for clamping' the plate to the rail so that the embracing members thereof-` Will be sprung to apply jy-'ielding pressure to the rail flange and said locking members engaging' the edges of the rail flange to prevent displacement thereof upon the plate.

2. rlfhe combination with a flanged rail and a wooden tie. of' a clamping plate adapted to be seated upon the tie, said plate having' opposed vieldable embracing.r lips with their 'free edges lying over the flange of the rail and a. headed locking` member for each lip serving' the double purpose of preventing the plate 'from displacement upon the tie and clamping the lips so that they spring or bend to apply yielding pressure to the flanges of the rail.

3. The combination with a flanged rail and a Wooden tie having` an opening adjacent each base flange of the rail, of a clamping plate of steel having its corners turned down to serve as anchors when driven into the tie'` a pair of opposed embracingT lips stamped from said plate each having an opening adapted to register with the openings in the tie. said lips overlying' the base flange of the rail and headed locking means passingr through the openiiio'stoif the embracing lips members extending through lll() and into the openings of 'the -tie for apply-ffl ing yielding pressure of the embracing lips to the rail flange and engagingr the edges of the rail flange to prevent displacement of v the rail.

4. The combination with a paix-.of flanged rails arranged end to end and a wooden itie lsupport therefor, ofi u rail fastening' plate ,having clamping' means for embracing' the base flanges of the rails and loclriner means to apply yieldingf pressure of the embracing lips to the rail flanges and to engage the edges of the rail flanges to prevent displacement of the rails from their aligned position.

5. A rail fasteningplate comprising: a recangular metallic plate, a pair of opposed vieldable rail flange embracing' lips each havin;y a screw receivin; r opening', said lips hein;r punched from the plate and so shaped as to provide ay rail flange receiving space between the embracing' lips and the upper plane of the plate.

gewaden 6. A rail fastening plate comprising a rectangular metallic plate, anchoring means ,formed at the corners of the plate, a pair of opposed yieldable rail flange vembracing lips each having a screw receiving opening, said llps being punched from the plate and so shaped as to provide a rail ange receivingy plate` a pnirfo'f opposedl being so/bent as to provide a deeper flange receiving space than the opposite hp..

8. A rail fastening plate comprising a rectangular metallic plate, anchoring means termed at the corners of the plate, a pair of yopposed yieldable rail ange embracing lips each having a screw receiving opening, said lips being punched from the plate and so shaped as t0 provide a rail flange receiving space between the embracing lips and the upper plane of the plate, one of Said embraing lips being so bent as to provide a deeper `flange receiving space than the opposite lip.

In testimony. whereof, I have hereunto signed in v name to the specification.

JOSEPH WESOLIK. 

